I was quick to book and got seats in the middle of the Circle which, for some reason, showed on my ticket as Zone AA Row A Seat 17 £70. I was expecting to pay more and would gladly have done so.
It was a long play, circa 3 hours, which meant a 7pm start. I left home in plenty of time for a pre-theatre meze at Gallipoli Again which I was glad for an excuse to revisit after a gap of a few years.
The view from my seat was encouraging with a simple, if busy, set thick with wood and brick. After the excessive fussiness of A Streetcar Named Desire at Almeida Theatre in 22 I was hoping for something more traditional and this was it.
I had not seen the play before and knew little about it, other than it was connected to Long Day’s Journey Into Night and while knowing that play added a little context it was not vital to the plot.
The family was led by Irish tenant farmer Phil Hogan (played by David Threlfall) who had one remaining offspring (the others had run away) his daughter Josie (played by Ruth Wilson).
Their landlord was James ‘Jim’ Tyrone (played by Michael Shannon). Jim Tyrone had inherited the estate when his father dies, he was the main character in Long Day’s Journey Into Night .
The play consisted of long serious conversations mostly between Josie and Jim with Phil, And that meant the play relied totally on the performances of the three main actors and it is fair to say that all three were excellent. Really excellent.
I like the style of Eugene O'Neil plays with lots of dialogue that gradually exposes histories and secrets and this was very much the style of this, his final play.
I went hoping for a great play and great acting and my high expectations were easily met.
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